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Prenatal Stress, Maternal Immune Dysregulation, and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Sex and Gender Issues in Behavioral Health (CN Epperson and L Hantsoo, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

While genetic factors are a major etiological contributor to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), evidence also supports a role for environmental factors. Herein, we will discuss two such factors that have been associated with a significant proportion of ASD risk: prenatal stress exposure and maternal immune dysregulation, and how sex and gender relate to these factors.

Recent Findings

Recent evidence suggests that maternal stress susceptibility interacts with prenatal stress exposure to affect offspring neurodevelopment. Additionally, understanding of the impact of maternal immune dysfunction on ASD has recently been advanced by recognition of specific fetal brain proteins targeted by maternal autoantibodies, and identification of unique mid-gestational maternal immune profiles. Animal models have been developed to explore pathophysiology targeting both of these factors, with limited sex-specific effects observed.

Summary

While prenatal stress and maternal immune dysregulation are associated with ASD, most cases of these prenatal exposures do not result in ASD, suggesting interaction with multiple other risks. We are beginning to understand the behavioral, pharmacopathological, and epigenetic effects related to these interactions, as well as potential mitigating factors. Sex differences of these risks have been understudied but are crucial for understanding the higher prevalence of ASD in boys. Continued growth in understanding of these mechanisms may ultimately allow for the identification of multiple potential points for prevention or intervention, and for a personalized medicine approach for this subset of environmental-associated ASD cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences And The Thompson Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    David Q. Beversdorf

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, DC 069.10, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA

    David Q. Beversdorf

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Hanna E. Stevens

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, And the MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA

    Karen L. Jones

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Correspondence to David Q. Beversdorf.

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All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

Conflict of Interest

David Q. Beversdorf declares no relevant conflict of interest but is an associate editor for Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders and has funding from the Department of Defense and the Autism Treatment Network.

Hanna E. Stevens reports being on the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Advisory Board, grants from Nellie Ball Trust, Roy J Carver Trust/Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Chromadex Corporation, Carver College of Medicine Center for Hypertension Research, grants and non-financial support from NIEHS/Iowa Environmental Health Science Research Center, grants from Patterson Trust, and NIMH.

Karen L. Jones reports grants from the Hartwell Foundation, NIEHS Center for Children’s Environmental Health, NICHD IDDRC, and Hearst Foundation.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sex and Gender Issues in Behavioral Health

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Beversdorf, D.Q., Stevens, H.E. & Jones, K.L. Prenatal Stress, Maternal Immune Dysregulation, and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep 20, 76 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0945-4

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